Visma-Lease a Bike, the name by which Jumbo-Visma is now known, became in 2023 the first team to win the three grand tours in the same year - Primoz Roglic (Giro), Jonas Vingegaard (Tour) and Sepp Kuss (Vuelta), while INEOS also has multiple achievements in the main events on the international calendar, in addition to five editions of the Volta ao Algarve between 2012 and 2023, the first four when it was still called Sky.

The organisers of the Volta ao Algarve also confirmed the presence of Intermarché-Wanty in the race, which is participating in the Algarve for the 10th time.

In total, the Volta ao Algarve will have 13 teams from the main category of world cycling (the highest number ever compared to 2018), including the top five in the 2023 ranking: UAE Emirates, Visma-Lease a Bike, Soudal Quick-Step, INEOS, and Lidl-Trek.

There are also nine continental Portuguese teams: ABTF Betão-Feirense, AP Hotels & Resorts-Tavira-Farense, Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho, Credibom-LA Alumínios-Marcos Car, Efapel, Kelly-Simoldes-UDO, Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista, Sabgal-Anicolor and Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua.

The 50th edition of the Volta ao Algarve begins in Portimão (February 14th) and ends at the top of Malhão, on the 18th.

Author

A passionate Irish journalist with a love for cycling, politics and of course Portugal especially their sausage rolls.

Rory Mc Ginn